Emirates Driving Company has launched the UAE’s first carbon-neutral driver training programme, ‘Green Drive’, in partnership with climate-tech firm CarbonSifr. This initiative offers students a sustainable driving experience by offsetting all emissions from practical lessons, marking a pioneering step in eco-friendly education and mobility.
In a significant move toward greener mobility and climate-conscious education, Emirates Driving Company (EDC) has officially launched the UAE’s first carbon-neutral driver training programme, titled ‘Green Drive’. This groundbreaking initiative positions EDC as a leader in sustainable transport solutions while reinforcing the UAE’s broader vision for environmental responsibility.
Launched in collaboration with CarbonSifr, a climate-tech company based in Abu Dhabi, Green Drive offers student drivers a chance to complete their practical training with net-zero carbon emissions—a first-of-its-kind offering in the region.
“As the leading provider of driver training in Abu Dhabi, we recognise our responsibility in shaping not only safer drivers but also a more climate-conscious future,” said Khaled Al Shemeili, CEO of Emirates Driving Company. “Green Drive is more than just an initiative—it’s a message that climate responsibility should be part of every aspect of life, including how we learn to drive.”
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The Green Drive initiative is designed to calculate, monitor, and offset the carbon footprint generated during each student’s practical driving sessions. This includes emissions linked to fuel type, driving distance, and vehicle usage. The data is processed using internationally recognised carbon accounting methodologies, ensuring accuracy and credibility.
CarbonSifr then offsets these emissions through investments in globally certified environmental projects that offer permanent and traceable carbon removal. These include nature-based and technology-driven carbon capture solutions. Importantly, the programme comes at no additional cost to students.
At the end of their training, participants are issued a Certificate of Appreciation, acknowledging their contribution to the country’s sustainable driving education efforts.
“Green Drive brings together innovation, real-time data, and climate action in a way that’s simple, meaningful, and impactful,” said Onur Elgun, CEO of CarbonSifr. “Through this programme, students become part of the UAE’s first environmentally responsible driving experience.”
One of the most notable aspects of Green Drive is its inclusive approach. While much of the conversation around sustainable driving often revolves around electric or hybrid vehicles, this programme is designed for all vehicle types, including petrol-powered cars.
The programme is currently available to students enrolled in EDC’s VIP car driving licence packages, with a phased rollout planned for other licence categories and training levels in the near future. This strategy allows EDC to collect feedback and fine-tune the initiative before expanding it on a larger scale.
By making carbon neutrality available across a range of traditional vehicle types, EDC aims to drive a broader cultural shift toward sustainability, even as the market gradually transitions to cleaner automotive technologies.
The launch of Green Drive aligns closely with the UAE’s national sustainability strategies, including the UAE Net Zero 2050 initiative and the country’s growing focus on climate-smart urban mobility.
It also supports global conversations around sustainable education and green innovation across various sectors—not just transport. By embedding carbon accountability into something as universal as driver education, the programme sets a precedent for other institutions to follow.
“This isn’t just about reducing emissions from cars on the road,” added Al Shemeili. “It’s about redefining how we educate future drivers, placing environmental awareness at the heart of the learning experience.”
Green Drive is part of a larger sustainability commitment by Emirates Driving Company. The organisation has earned a AAA rating in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices—the highest score possible from leading global sustainability rating agencies.
This recognition reflects EDC’s long-term efforts to incorporate sustainability into its operations, infrastructure, and training methodologies. From eco-efficient training centres to investment in green technologies, EDC continues to position itself as an industry leader in responsible driving education.
By pioneering this initiative, EDC is not only enhancing its own environmental credentials but also actively contributing to a sustainable national mobility ecosystem—one that considers not just how we drive, but the carbon impact of the process of learning to drive.
With its initial success, Green Drive is expected to expand across all EDC licence categories, including motorcycle, heavy vehicle, and commercial training programmes. The company is also exploring partnerships with public sector agencies and private companies to integrate sustainable driver education into larger fleet and transport systems.
The initiative offers a scalable, practical solution for reducing emissions in one of the most widespread aspects of daily life—learning to drive. It also reinforces the UAE’s role as a regional leader in climate innovation and policy implementation.
For now, Green Drive sets a new benchmark in the country’s road safety and environmental efforts, combining driver education with a forward-looking commitment to sustainability.
Source : Gulf News
Image : Supplied
